This post tells you why and how jeera water aids weight loss, how to prepare jeera water, a few recipes, and the ways to include it in your daily diet. Scroll down! Note: Jeera water may only aid in water weight loss. To get rid of the flab, you must eat a balanced diet and exercise 3-4 times a week. Following a healthy lifestyle is crucial for weight loss, no matter what else you do along with it.
What Is Jeera Water?
Jeera water is the solution you obtain after soaking cumin seeds in water overnight. Through the process of osmosis, the water enters the cumin seeds, and they swell up. The turgid cumin seeds then release the nutrients into the water. This imparts an earthy yellow color to the water. Now, let’s get to the main point – how jeera water aids weight loss.
Benefits Of Jeera Water For Weight Loss
1. Low In Calories
One teaspoon of cumin (2.1 g) has 8 calories (2). Hence, having a glass of jeera water (1 teaspoon of jeera powder) does not add extra calories.
2. Boosts Metabolism
Cumin water or jeera water helps boost metabolism. It is loaded with vitamins and minerals that act as cofactors for various metabolic reactions. Researchers found that administering cumin and lime improved the metabolic rate and overall lipid profile and reduced the BMI of overweight participants (3).
3. Improves Digestion
Cumin or jeera water improves digestion by accelerating the functions of digestive enzymes. Improved digestion results in improved resting metabolic rate, leading to weight loss. A study on 57 Iranian people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) showed that cumin seed oil improved the frequency of bowel habit and relieving other symptoms (4). Cumin extracts accelerate the secretion of amylase, lipase, protease, and phytase, which enhance digestion (5).
4. Detoxifies The Body
Studies show that all varieties of cumin seeds (cumin, black cumin, and bitter cumin) are excellent sources of antioxidants and can scavenge harmful free oxygen radicals (6). Thymoquinone, the chief bioactive ingredient in black cumin seeds, shows hepatoprotective effects (7). It helps in cleansing the body of harmful toxins.
5. Anti-inflammatory
The active ingredients in cumin seeds have anti-inflammatory properties (8). A constant state of inflammation can lead to inflammation-induced obesity, and drinking jeera water or cumin water can help prevent that. Studies showed that cumin seed oil could prevent inflammation by blocking the crosstalk between the cells and inhibiting the signaling pathways (7).
6. Lowers LDL Cholesterol Levels
Cumin can help improve HDL cholesterol levels and lower LDL cholesterol levels. Scientists from Iran studied the effect of cumin powder on obese women and determined their body composition and lipid profile. The study showed reduced levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides and higher HDL (good) cholesterol levels with lower body fat percentage (1).
7. Improves Insulin Sensitivity
Cumin helps to sensitize insulin and make it available to cells. Insulin Resistance (IR) (inability of the cells to utilize insulin) decreases glucose uptake by cells. The more the number of fat cells, the higher the risk of IR and type 2 diabetes. A rat study found that effective combinations of essential oils, including cumin oil, helped reduce blood glucose levels and increased insulin sensitivity (9).
How To Use Cumin For Weight Loss
It is best to make jeera water in a glass, stainless steel, or copper bowl. Cover it with a lid to prevent contamination. To prepare jeera water, you need:
2 teaspoons jeera 1 cup of water
How To Prepare
When To Drink Jeera Water For Weight Loss
You must drink jeera water three times a day for effective weight loss.
1st cup – In the morning, on an empty stomach 2nd cup – 20 minutes before lunch 3rd cup – 20 minutes after dinner
Other Jeera Water Recipes For Weight Loss
1. Jeera Water And Lime
Ingredients
1 teaspoon cumin seeds 1 cup of water ½ lime
How To Prepare
Benefits Lime is a good source of vitamin C, which is an antioxidant (10). It can boost immunity, flush the toxins out, and help maintain the body’s internal pH.
2. Jeera Water And Cinnamon
Ingredients
1 teaspoon cumin seeds 1 cup of water 1 teaspoon ground Ceylon cinnamon
How To Prepare
Benefits
Ceylon cinnamon aids weight loss by lowering blood glucose levels and reducing stress. In a study, supplementing with 3 g of Ceylon cinnamon for 16 weeks showed significant improvement in all components of metabolic syndrome (11).
3. Jeera Water And Apple Cider Vinegar
Ingredients
1 teaspoon cumin seeds 1 cup of water 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
How To Prepare
Benefits
An experiment on high-fat-fed mice showed that the acetic acid in apple cider vinegar was effective in increasing fatty acid oxidation (the breakdown of fat molecules) (12). You can also include jeera or cumin in your daily diet to improve digestion, prevent constipation, and induce weight loss. The combination of cumin and yogurt tastes great. You can use this combo as a salad dressing or have it for lunch or dinner. Here’s how to prepare it:
Ingredients
½ cup yogurt 2 teaspoons cumin powder 1 teaspoon lime juice A pinch of salt
How To Prepare
Tip: You can add chopped cucumber, tomato, onion, cilantro, or sprouts to the cumin and yogurt mix to make a delicious salad.
Ways To Add Cumin or Jeera To Your Diet
Add cumin seeds to your detox water. Add cumin powder to salads, grilled chicken, fish, paneer, tofu, and curries. Temper lentils with cumin seeds.
Tip: Make sure you don’t overburn them while cooking as that will destroy all the goodness of the cumin seeds.
Other Health Benefits
Potent sleep inducer. Cumin seeds are loaded with iron (2). This can help treat anemia. Help boost brain function. Help cool the body down.
Possible Side Effects of Jeera Water
Cumin is non-toxic and generally safe to consume. It may trigger the following adverse symptoms if taken in excess (7):
Nausea Dizziness Abdominal pain
How much weight can I lose with jeera water? Jeera water helps in boosting metabolic rate and accelerates weight loss if combined with other holistic approaches. You can lose 2-4 kg in a month, which varies as per the age, weight, and medical conditions. How many times should I drink jeera water for weight loss? You can drink jeera water 3 times in a day, along with following portion control. Have the first cup in the morning on an empty stomach, second cup 20 minutes before lunch, and third cup 20 minutes after dinner. Can I drink jeera water before exercise? Jeera water cannot boost energy and does not help as a pre-workout meal. You can drink jeera water before a meal to improve digestion. Is black jeera effective in weight loss? According to a study, black jeera helped reduce body weight and improved BMI and waist circumference (13). However, further studies are needed to clarify these effects. Is jeera hot or cold for the body? Jeera is hot for the body. You may add other ingredients discussed above to balance it out if needed. Can I drink jeera water at night to lose weight? Yes, you can drink jeera water at night to lose weight. Drink it 20 minutes after dinner.
